Dutch association demands FIFA explanation on World Cup draw

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-12-4 20:41:01

The Dutch football association KNVB wants an explanation from the world football governing body FIFA for changing the procedure for the World Cup draw.

KNVB director Bert van Oostveen was surprised by the announced procedure, according to reports by Dutch broadcaster NOS on Wednesday.

"We assumed that the lowest ranked European country, France, would be allocated to pot 2," he told NOS. "We want to know why they did it."

On Tuesday the FIFA announced the final procedures for the draw, which will be held in Costa do Sauipe, Bahia on Friday December 6.

Contrary to earlier reports, France, the lowest ranked qualified European country in the FIFA world rankings, was not placed in pot 2, but in pot 4 with the other European teams including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, England, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, and Russia. A draw before the draw will now decide which of these nine teams will move to pot 2.

A maximum of two European teams is allowed to populate one group, which means the European team in pot 2 will face one of the seeded South American teams, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia or Uruguay. The consequence of this change is that the Netherlands could be faced with a tough group, with for instance hosts Brazil and Italy.

"The decision was taken by FIFA's executive committee, all the Confederation Presidents," said FIFA President Sepp Blatter. "We are at a draw and we should have a draw. It's easy to say it. Let us draw all the teams, and not pick one out."

Posted in: Soccer

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